Until recently, talk of drones centered around military applications. Now a couple of major companies have raised the possibility of this technology being put to use in supply chain and logistics capabilities. Amazon and United Postal Service have both revealed that they’re researching the concept of package delivery via these unmanned aircraft.
Drones are also considered to have potential as sophisticated security systems for shipping valuable loads. They would be programmed to fly overhead to monitor any obstacles and threats to the vehicle as it made its journey.
Qimarox, a Dutch manufacturer of material handling components, has come up with a use that’s more down-to-earth, literally and figuratively. They anticipate drones being used in warehouses to build pallet loads, picking up materials from a conveyor belt and placing them on the pallets. While weight would be a major consideration, the company believes there is a way to solve that problem.
This is seen as a stepping-stone to full automation of the material handling process. The drones could be easily reprogrammed as needed to accommodate variables such as speed and capacity. Qimarox has currently commissioned a company to create a dynamic 3D software model in order to study the process in action.
While the possibilities are thought-provoking, actual use of drones is still many years away. Right now you can modernize your warehouse with the efficient, eco-friendly material handling solutions from DJ Products. We offer a full line of tugs and pushers ergonomically designed for safe and efficient handling by a single employee. Please contact one of our friendly Sales Engineers at 800.686.2651.